Leonardo, April 01, 2022 - Leonardo is putting forward its twin-engine multi-role military AW149 for the UK MoD’s New Medium Helicopter (NMH) requirement.
If successful, the company has committed to the establishment of an additional final assembly line of the platform at the “Home of British Helicopters” – its Yeovil site.
The NMH campaign will enable Leonardo to support and grow the UK’s end-to-end rotary wing industrial base, including the company’s specialist design skills, which will be essential to future UK participation in next-generation platforms.
Leonardo has an existing AW149 structure manufacturing capability at its Centre of Excellence for Aerostructures in Brindisi, Italy, which serves current in-service customers. The platform is currently assembled in Vergiate.
In collaboration, teams in Brindisi have welcomed their colleagues from Leonardo in Yeovil to showcase the engineering skills, and techniques used when building the latest-generation AW149.
A cadre of highly qualified specialist engineers, some of which have benefited from Leonardo’s apprentice and trainee schemes, travelled from the UK to Italy for the training.
Former apprentice, Alex Weymouth, a mechanical fitter on the AW101 Merlin mid-life sustainment program, recently went to the company’s southern Italy site to be trained by colleagues on the AW149.
Alex commented: “I was watching and learning new techniques on how to build the aircraft. As a modern, mostly composite aircraft, the skills and techniques differ slightly to the AW101. I’m excited to possibly work on the AW149 more in the future and hopefully at the Yeovil site.”
Alex was joined by other colleagues, such as Joseph Eveleigh, who is also a mechanical/structural fitter and has been for the last four years. One of the main reasons Joseph went to Italy was to gather an understanding of some of the operations which can be undertaken by the platform.
He said: “I’m looking forward to learning about the new technologies and capabilities the AW149 has on-board.”
Matt Walters, a former apprentice and mechanical fitter, is well accustomed to working on in-service UK MoD aircraft. His current job involves stripping and rebuilding aircraft, modifying the structure as required, and systems testing. These high-level engineering skills would complement and transfer to the AW149 if Leonardo is successful with the NMH campaign.
Matt shared: “My recent training in Brindisi was organized to familiarize myself with the AW149 aircraft. The Brindisi site was focused on the structural aspects of the AW149 airframe which I found extremely beneficial. This training also gave me the opportunity to interact with experienced operators with existing knowledge of the aircraft. I was able to ask questions about specific tools and equipment or how to best approach a certain job.”
He continued: “The AW149 is a high-tech, military aircraft and I am excited to be involved in the engineering behind it. Working on a new platform is great for my progression as an aircraft mechanical fitter and allows me to broaden my knowledge and skills.”
Stuart Redman, who has been with Leonardo in Yeovil for almost 25 years, was able to develop his expertise further on the latest-generation AW149. He was shown how to conduct certain modifications on the aircraft.
He noted that if Leonardo was successful on the AW149 NMH campaign, “the aircraft could bring work into the company for years to come. It would mean a good progression for myself to work on a different platform.”
If successful, the company has committed to the establishment of an additional final assembly line of the platform at the “Home of British Helicopters” – its Yeovil site.
The NMH campaign will enable Leonardo to support and grow the UK’s end-to-end rotary wing industrial base, including the company’s specialist design skills, which will be essential to future UK participation in next-generation platforms.
Leonardo has an existing AW149 structure manufacturing capability at its Centre of Excellence for Aerostructures in Brindisi, Italy, which serves current in-service customers. The platform is currently assembled in Vergiate.
In collaboration, teams in Brindisi have welcomed their colleagues from Leonardo in Yeovil to showcase the engineering skills, and techniques used when building the latest-generation AW149.
A cadre of highly qualified specialist engineers, some of which have benefited from Leonardo’s apprentice and trainee schemes, travelled from the UK to Italy for the training.
Former apprentice, Alex Weymouth, a mechanical fitter on the AW101 Merlin mid-life sustainment program, recently went to the company’s southern Italy site to be trained by colleagues on the AW149.
Alex commented: “I was watching and learning new techniques on how to build the aircraft. As a modern, mostly composite aircraft, the skills and techniques differ slightly to the AW101. I’m excited to possibly work on the AW149 more in the future and hopefully at the Yeovil site.”
Alex was joined by other colleagues, such as Joseph Eveleigh, who is also a mechanical/structural fitter and has been for the last four years. One of the main reasons Joseph went to Italy was to gather an understanding of some of the operations which can be undertaken by the platform.
He said: “I’m looking forward to learning about the new technologies and capabilities the AW149 has on-board.”
Matt Walters, a former apprentice and mechanical fitter, is well accustomed to working on in-service UK MoD aircraft. His current job involves stripping and rebuilding aircraft, modifying the structure as required, and systems testing. These high-level engineering skills would complement and transfer to the AW149 if Leonardo is successful with the NMH campaign.
Matt shared: “My recent training in Brindisi was organized to familiarize myself with the AW149 aircraft. The Brindisi site was focused on the structural aspects of the AW149 airframe which I found extremely beneficial. This training also gave me the opportunity to interact with experienced operators with existing knowledge of the aircraft. I was able to ask questions about specific tools and equipment or how to best approach a certain job.”
He continued: “The AW149 is a high-tech, military aircraft and I am excited to be involved in the engineering behind it. Working on a new platform is great for my progression as an aircraft mechanical fitter and allows me to broaden my knowledge and skills.”
Stuart Redman, who has been with Leonardo in Yeovil for almost 25 years, was able to develop his expertise further on the latest-generation AW149. He was shown how to conduct certain modifications on the aircraft.
He noted that if Leonardo was successful on the AW149 NMH campaign, “the aircraft could bring work into the company for years to come. It would mean a good progression for myself to work on a different platform.”
Yeovil Comments | Join community |
| I was simply offering my opinion. The UK replacement medium helicopter will be replacing 6 or 7 different aircraft that are used for different roles and becoming obsolete. The new aircraft will be used in many roles in different environments. My point about the AH was that it does not need to be a purpose built war machine. The new medium helicopter, Airbus, Leonardo or Sikorsky will need to be a flexible multi role, multi use utility aircraft. Based on my military and civilian aviation background, this is my personal opinion and I’m happy to accept and respect anyone else’s opinion. Defence contracts are never on time or on budget, however there are always political and financial considerations. One thing that will be a fact is, which ever is selected, it won’t be 100% fit for purpose 100% of the time and there will be challenges introducing it into service. |
| If they opt for the Blackhawk in will be 100%fit for purpose with little or no development costs that would come with any civil machine as stated above The USAF are having big problems already with theirs and I wonder how long before they drop them entirely? I am interested in your military aviation background? |
| When we look at the current climate, and the hand-wringing over how wrong many western intelligence agencies have been (...the days of Russian tanks rolling across Europe are gone - the next war will be fought in cyber/space etc etc...) one thing becomes obvious. We must plan for everything. Everything. CLASS - Cyber, Land, Air, Space & Sea. This means investment across the piste, but perhaps most importantly we need to build combat effectiveness. The days of handshake deals for political reasons cannot be allowed to return. Russia has had a 'political' military for many years (how does a Military Officer afford a $50 million superyacht?). How is it serving them now? Whatever the outcome of the NMH decision for the UK, it simply must be the most combat able solution. It must be extremely robust, repairable and reliable. It must have the power and weaponry the military need and it must command the confidence of the crews and the pax. Simply put, it must provide UK crews the maximum chance of getting into the fight, fighting, and getting out again. The military simply must get what they need, and they know the answer far better than anyone else. Anything else would be a criminal dereliction of duty by the procurement executive. |
| Spot on there, manufacturers can make all kinds of claims, made for the military, made for offshore operations, made for....anything if that is where the next sale is. Truth is most helicopters are a compromise to fit as many markets as possible. Higher costs, lower unit numbers just make this worse. I once believed I was going to help introduce the Blackhawk to the RAF, that dream lasted about 6 months. Still, I'm told the S92 is derived from the Blackhawk, so maybe there was a small part of the plan that has happened for me. |
| I think any claim like that from LH should be subjected to the highest levels of scrutiny. If they claim its a military helicopter (which it isn't), then surely they'd use military (or ex-mil) operators or SME's through the Concept to Demonstration phases. That's where their claim would quickly unravel. My second question would be the lack of global sales of this particular aircraft to the military customer. It isn't exactly popular. I'm not too sure the ability to jump start from a donor aircraft is the USP that LH should lead with. We all want that car that starts first time, every time in all weathers. Our battlefield helicopters should be no different (not that I know of particular issues with the 159). In fairness to LH, they will try to sell us what they've got and we'll probably buy it; but it won't be for the right reasons; it will be to save jobs rather than being the right aircraft for the role. Interesting times ahead. |
| Leonardo would claim it was planned as a military aircraft but they sold the first ones to the civil market. To be fair any aircraft that can be jump started from another must have had field site detachments in mind. |
| Very well articulated and 100% agree |
| As always they have it wrong again, the RAF won’t do the selection and I truly hope those that are responsible will choose a real military helicopter, the Blackhawk, put together in the new Teeside factory. Oil and gas helicopters painted black have never made good battlefield helicopters. |
| Garbage the Chinook was developed to replace the CH37 the military wanted a gas turbine heavy lift machine. I’ve already told you the L2 was developed from the military designed Puma and the us have certainly not ordered the the AW149 to replace the Blackhawk - the greywolf is having a terrible time as expected trying to be a military helicopter - you really need to get your facts right! I’m still interested in precisely what you did to get your Military experience you claim to have. |
| It's so interesting to read these threads and see the views of those who have the experience and background to comment with authority, and compare them with those who may be pilots or in the aviation industry but have no experience of frontline military aviation. I can imagine the driver of a London double decker routemaster suggesting his bus would be a great solution to moving troops around in the non-mech role. After all it fits 80 pax and never breaks down in his experience. I don't think it would need too much explanation for him to realise that his bus is not getting far when put into the trooping role and it gets bogged in on SPTA. A very simple anology I know, but you get the idea. The Leonardo and Airbus Oil and Gas acft may be great in their field, I'm not qualified to comment, but painting them green does not make them Battlefield helicopters. Ask any experienced frontline operator either pilot or crewman and they will probably ask for an updated Blackhawk, a design with inbuilt resiiance, air-portability and the power to deliver what the Troops need. 😎💪 |
| Some fair points re SAR but I’d argue the others - an L2 O and G and mil Puma’s aren’t quite the same albeit the L2 was developed from the French mil version and if recent battlefields are to compared Chinooks never ventured very far without AH cover. I’ve never said I am absolutely right! I thought and and still believe the S70 (Blackhawk) was first developed for the US army to replace the UH 1 - I really do like the many incorrect facts tho. |
| are you even aware of the well-documented difficulties USAF are having with trying to get the AW139 ‘Grey Wolf’ to work? The project has become an embarrassment to those connected with it - The fallacy of thinking you can make a civvy helicopter into a military one ‘personified’. |
| The chinook was an oil and gas machine. The puma was an oil and gas machine. Why do we want to sell our selfs to the US with the blackhawk? It’s an old design now. Even the US of A is looking at replacing it. They have selected the grey wolf which is an AW139, an oil and gas machine. The AW149 is a military version of the AW189, modern engines, modern airframe, modern autopilot and the power and ability to have plenty of bolt on kit. All with a wide field of supply chain to support it. It’s not going to be an apache at the front line, it will be a support helicopter, as used by SAR crews in the UK in the harshest of conditions. Built in Britain and supported in Britain 🇬🇧 |
| Best of luck to the whole Leonardo Helicopters team! I truly hope you all crush it! |
See also |
AW149 NMH in
AgustaWestland UK AW149 in
AgustaWestland Italy 
